Location, Location, Location

Revon set design mock up for Roméo et Juliette

No, not retail, we're talking strictly opera here. "Roméo et Juliette," the opera by French composer Charles Gounod is what's next for Livermore Valley Opera, and Opening Night is September 24th. (Tickets anyone...?)

The music is simply beautiful, and although this opera is just the 28th most popular, according to Opera America, Juliette's aria "Je veux vivre" is possibly one of the most requested. (At least it was at the recent Opera in the Vineyard event held by LVO!) I am listening to several renditions of this area as I write this blog post, Joan Sutherland, Maria Callas, and Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé  -- (vote for your favorite in the comments!).

You will get to hear this music live, fully staged, and you can do it for less than what you'd spend on dinner, parking and gas to get into San Francisco from the Tri-Valley. And, you'll be much closer to the stage.

Set Designer Jean-François Revon says he listens to the music over and over again to create a set design that both suits the opera and addresses the stage director's unique vision. He has designed more than 350 sets and has been working with the directors and volunteers at LVO for the last eight years. He has been instrumental in helping the company grow into the emerging professional opera it is today. In 2007, LVO made a huge transition from the Livermore High School auditorium to the 507-seat Bankhead Theater.

"Livermore Valley Opera has a true advantage being a smaller company. It is a privilege [for a stage director] to create their own piece with a custom set. It is a huge selling point for the company," according to Revon.

"It was very easy to work with Bill Murray, a true pleasure. His vision was specific and clear and easy for me to design for."

When asked what was particularly challenging about this opera set, he said it was the "number of locations," six locations en total, over five ACTS. "That's a lot for an opera," says Revon. In all that time, this is only the second time Revon has designed a set for Roméo et Juliette.

Bill Rabe, Set Construction

Roméo et Juliette  is a very ambitious undertaking for LVO in its 20th anniversary season. The set changes must appear uncomplicated, challenging when there are so many. Stage Director Bill Murray's vision was to use windows and color as symbols and a way of emoting, through the scenic changes. Audiences will notice, or perhaps simply feel, the way light and artistry have tugged at their emotions as the scene changes from a ballroom party scene to an out of doors, to a prison, outdoors (totally difference location, of course), to Juliette's bedroom, and to the final tomb scene.

Serena Shannari painting the ground row.

For an LVO first, Scenic Painter Serina Shannari, has used the technique of painting with hot wax on at least two canvasses depicting windows in Acts I (ballroom) and IV (bedroom). The wax gives a "glass-like" quality to to the set piece and helps exaggerate the color using light creatively, thanks to collaborative Lighting Designer Kevin Bautch. In particular, you will notice the effect on the stained glass window in the bedroom scene. A light box technique is used in the prison scene to give depth and darkness to the moment. Shannari has trained LVO volunteers over the years of collaboration to assist her with painting, which translates into cost savings for the company.

Volunteers Jill Evanko and Sue Rabe

In all, it is a $10,000+ set, a bargain in the opera world. LVO is accomplishing this  feat thanks to donated lumber and a dedicated team of  highly-skilled set construction volunteers lead by Bill Rabe. He and Revon have worked together over the years to translate a visiting stage director's unique visions into magic on stage.  LVO now enjoys professional company member status with the national arts organization Opera America. Bill and his crew create plans based on the Revon designs, working from mock up images, so they can actually build the set that you will see on stage. LVO's set construction crew includes:  Rich Sutherland, Harald Kipp, Brian Maxwell, Larry Snyder, and even cast member Ernie Alvarez helped construct for a couple of days between rehearsals.

What's next for Jean-Francois?  The Crucible

Don't miss the final Roméo et Juliette preview this weekend, always free and open to the public:

• Livermore Main Library on Sun. 9/18 @ 2pm